Electronic parking infrastructure without detectors or sensors

Abstract

There is described an electronic parking infrastructure without detectors or sensors. The electronic parking infrastructure comprises geo-located parking spaces, a parking system database and a computing device which communicates over a communication network. The computing device has a computer / processor, applications can be loaded thereon, it is web-enabled and it has an on-board positioning system. The positioning system of the computing device is used in conjunction with the position of geo-located parking space to determine if a vehicle occupies the geo-located parking space.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 996,184, filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002](a) Field[0003]The subject matter disclosed generally relates to relates to an electronic parking infrastructure without detectors or sensors.[0004](b) Related Prior Art[0005]Most major cities around the globe are turning parking spaces into rentable bike systems in an effort to make the cities less congested with traffic and to reduce pollution. This has proven to be a nuisance to those who need to find a parking space for their cars especially when a person is short on time.[0006]In an effort to transform major North American cities into Eco-Friendly environment, several measures have been taken to reduce carbon emissions, in addition to optimizing available systems.[0007]Under the pretext of “optimization”, the presently described parking space reservat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system that helps manage and optimize parking spaces in major cities to reduce traffic and pollution. The system uses a method to match the identity of cars with the available parking spaces, ensuring efficient use of these spaces. The technical effect of this system is improved management and optimization of parking spaces in urban areas.

Problems solved by technology

This has proven to be a nuisance to those who need to find a parking space for their cars especially when a person is short on time.

Normally, when the status of a parking space changes to “reserved”, the “selected” status is not useful and is not used as such.

The use of fixed physical indicators is thereby rendered unnecessary.

Another technical problem with prior art systems for reserving parking spaces is that there is a need to install and to use fixed physical sensors (weight sensors, light (or other wavelength) emission / detection sensors, cameras, etc.) for each parking space to determine if a parking space is occupied or not.

It is understood that the method and system described herein are time-sensitive.

Only the embodiments which would involve only humans are abstract, unrealizable, unrealistic and the figment of one's imagination.

However, their ordered combination may not be found in the prior art and hence they provide substantially more.

In this case, one of the resolved technical problems is the fact that existing solutions propose to use fixed indicators to show reservation status of a parking space and fixed sensors to detect occupancy (or not) of a parking space.

The indicators and sensors used in the prior art will eventually fail, need to be replaced, need a power source, are unreliable (e.g., in harsh weather conditions, heat, cold, snow, rain, etc.), and service will be interrupted when road work is performed in the vicinity of the parking spaces.

Some would argue that the above noted problems will also be present in the claimed method since the computing devices also have these technical limits.

There are therefore more points of potential failure in the prior art systems and methods than there are in the instant claims.

In the prior art systems, if a fixed sensor or indicator related to a parking space fails, the parking space is no longer available for use.

As stated above, there are more points of potential failure in the prior art systems and methods than there are in the presently described system and method.

While prior art systems and methods propose to use computing devices, a wireless communication network and a parking system databases, they do not propose the specific ordered combination of steps to provide the above-note advantages without using fixed detectors and sensors.

The fact that the claimed method and system considered as a whole (i.e., the ordered combination of claimed steps) result in eliminating the fixed sensors of the prior art meaningfully limits the method of reserving a parking space and furthermore adds a specific limitation other than what is well-understood, routine, conventional activity in the field or unconventional steps that confine the claim to a particular useful application (i.e., one that eliminates the fixed sensors and thereby resolves the drawbacks related to fixed sensors such as being prone to failure, needing replacement, needing a power source, and being unreliable and provides that advantages of enhanced reliability, using less components and resources in the parking reservation system, and providing a system that provides technical advantages over prior art systems).

However, limitations are pre-set in the application, depending on the city of operations and the city's by-laws along with the city council's agreement to prevent abuse.

For safety reasons, the software will not allow you to use the system or reserve if the car is in motion, which will be determined by the GPS / positioning system readily available in all smart phones.

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